Eid celebrations with exchange of sweets and shelling at IB, LoC

Jammu, Oct 6: It was a day of exchange of shelling and sweets between Indian and Pakistani forces today along the de facto border that divides them.

Even as they traded fire in one of the worst violations of ceasefire from across the border along the IB and LoC in Jammu and Poonch sectors, the Indian and Pakistan armies maintained the tradition of exchanging sweets on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha.

"On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha, sweets were exchanged at Chakan-Da-Bagh by the Indian troops who also wished them (Pak troops)," Ministry of Defence said in a statement here.

Asked why such a function was held in the midst of shelling from across the border causing causalities, an Army officer said, "it is a tradition". In one of the worst ceasefire violations by Pakistan, five villagers were killed and 34 injured today in heavy mortar shelling and firing from across the International Border and Line of Control in Jammu and Poonch sectors.

Meanwhile, sweets were also exchanged between BSF and Pakistan Rangers on the Indo-Pak border in Bikaner. BSF men exchanged sweets and greetings on the festival of Eid-ul-Zuha, a BSF spokesperson said.